RALEIGH, N.C., June 3, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Supporters and friends of the National Inclusion Project are invited to be a part of an amazing night of celebrating the heroes in our lives and the Superheroes we aspire to be. The annual Champions Gala will be held September 26 with proceeds going to ensure that children with and without disabilities can play, learn and laugh TOGETHER. Co-founder Clay Aiken will perform, and Justin LeBlanc, Season 12 “Project Runway” Finalist, will speak.

This year’s theme is “Circle of Heroes” celebrating the families, partners, volunteers and supporters that make the inclusion of children with disabilities possible. The event will be held at the Marriott City Center in Raleigh, N.C.

The Champions Gala will include many of Raleigh’s own hometown heroes – National Inclusion Project co-founder Clay Aiken, guest speaker Justin LeBlanc from Project Runway and emcee Lynda Loveland from WRAL. Honorees this year include Procter & Gamble for their commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and Marlana Vanhoose for not letting her blindness and cerebral palsy get in the way of her dreams to inspire others with her voice. Additional honorees will be announced at a later date.

“Each year we are excited to share the stories of our amazing honorees and speakers. We hope they will inspire everyone to join us in making inclusion the expectation and not the exception,” says Jerry Aiken, Executive Director.

The National Inclusion Project works to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them. They partner with heroes in community and recreational programs to enable them to include children with disabilities in ALL of their activities. These heroes believe ALL children can participate, ALL children can make a friend and ALL children can succeed.

Tickets go on sale for the National Inclusion Project’s Champions Gala for platinum and gold levels starting on June 18, 2015 at 12 noon EDT and for silver level on June 23 at 12 noon EDT. To order tickets, go to: http://www.inclusionproject.org/gala.

About the National Inclusion Project:

The National Inclusion Project was co-founded in 2003 by entertainer Clay Aiken and serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them. By driving the movement for social inclusion in after school programs, summer camps, and community based activities, children of all abilities learn, play and laugh together.

Over the last twelve years, the Project has provided training, curriculum, and support to YMCAs, JCCs, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4H, CampFire USA, Kids Museums, Zoos and other community organizations looking to become inclusive or enhance their inclusive programs.

For more information on the National Inclusion Project and to help ensure no child sits on the sidelines, visit their website at http://www.inclusionproject.org/.

Terry is the managing content editor for Massachusetts Newswire™, and has been a team member of the Neotrope® News Network since March 2009. He is currently attending college in Boston (he didn't make it into MIT and blames Red Bull for not giving him wiings to do so), does not hang out at "frat" parties, or have an avatar in Second Life, but he is a huge J.J. Abrams fan, and slavish to all things pop culture.